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would be well for the teacher, in the first place, to read over to his pupils, with appropriate emphasis and expression, the passage to be committed to memory, asking questions on any words or allusions which may seem likely to occasion difficulty; he will then direct them to underline with pencil the words which require peculiar emphasis in the recital, and to ascertain, or "get up," before they repeat the lesson, the meaning of such words, phrases, and allusions as may need explanation. When he hears the lesson, he may call upon any member of the class to repeat the whole, or part of it, as may be convenient, occasionally dropping hints on peculiarities of pronunciation, and putting such questions as may serve to elicit the author's meaning, and to illustrate the ingenuity and taste of the composition. It is advisable, too, that references should be made from one poem to another where similar expressions or thoughts occur, or where the same subject is treated; and that the poems that have been learned should be occasionally repeated and referred to in conversation or reading. These directions will appear unnecessarily minute only to those who do not know, by experience in teaching, the importance of attention to details.

Alterations have been made in the originals of some of the poems, in order to adapt them to the

others, than is usually entertained, and believes, not on theory but from experience, that much more may be made of their minds by acting on this estimate than by treating them as mere babies.

It is gratifying to the Editor to believe, and to some extent to know, that thousands of children to whom schoolbooks generally are an aversion, have turned to this little book with ever increasing delight, and have found in it "a mirror in which their best feelings are reflected, and 'whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are lovely,' presented to them in the most attractive form."

The present edition has been carefully revised and considerably enlarged by the insertion of several poems; for permission to use which the publishers are indebted to the generous kindness of Miss Ingelow; Robert Browning, Esq.; Alfred Tennyson, Esq.; the Rev. Canon Kingsley; the Right Hon. Lord Houghton; William Allingham, Esq.; Edward Capern, Esq.; and Messrs. Strahan & Co.

4 KILDARE GARDENS, W.

November 1, 1873.

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